Vijayalaya Choliswaram Temple, Narthamalai






 Vijayalaya Choliswaram Temple, Narthamalai , Pudukottai, TamilNadu 


      This is an 9th century stone rock cut Shiva Temple situated on Narttamalai Hill in Pudukottai district of TamilNadu. The approach to the temple is through tiring journey up an hillock. The beautiful stone temple was constructed in second half of 9th century by a  local Mutaraiyar Chieftain Cattan Pudi who was ruling this part of the country and was aligned with the Pallavas. It was latter redeveloped by Tennavan Tamiladi Araiyan. There is also a view that this temple was constructed by the founder of Imperial Cholas Vijayalaya( 850-870 AD) and hence the name Vijayalaya Choliswaram. The controversy still survives to this day.


       The stone temple is a beautiful piece of architecture of that era. The temple has a main shrine in the centre and eight sub shrines on the outside of which only six survive now. The main shrine which has the Shiv lingam inside is entered through a small door on both sides of which  are beautiful sculpted images of dwarakapalas. A small Nandi is in front of the shrine facing the lord. The central sanctum is circular in shape unlike many of the temples and is superscribed by a vimana which is square in the first three tiers with a circular one at the top tier in keeping with the shape of the sanctum. There is a circumbulatory passage around the sanctum where only one person can go at a time. A small Ardha Mandapam is in front of the sanctum with six pillars and fully covered walls with some paintings on it. The outer walls has Yazhi and Elephant sculptures all around.  The Nandhi in front is in an open mandapam facing the sky.


         The granite stone temple was built at a time when the Pallava empire was in their last decades and has evidence of their architecture similar to Mahabalipuram. The six sub shrines outside the main shrine gives an idea of the temple structure of that era and the circular garbhgriha is a unique feature of the temple.  The temple is worth visiting if you happen to visit that part of the country for its architectural beauty of 1200 years vintage.

        Visited the temple as a member of Chola Mandala Varalatru Theda Kuzhu



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